ART OF TIPPING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19797, 24 May 1926, Page 10

ART OF TIPPING.

Thu hospitality officer of the Gordon Hotels, London, has contributed the following to the Landmark, the organ of the English Speaking Union : “To know how to tip is to know how to live.” The writer does not know who said this —perhaps it is a figment of his own brain—but, at all events, for the traveller it is a true saying and not to be gainsaid. . . . The roan of the world, the seasoned traveller, knows how and when to tip, but many people barely know the first thing about the tipping system, and either gro 'y overtip or do not tip at all. The man who overdoes it is, for obvious reasons, a curse to, his neighbour ; the man who does not tip at all Is rather a mean fellow, and his blood be upon his own head, for his Journeying about the earth will be quite uncomfortable. Ten per cent, is the golden rule In tipping—vou simply can’t go wrong. After all, -£5 per week is not a vast sura to a man whose hotel bill amounts to £SO per week. ■ Some people give a little more it they have particular reason to show their satisfaction, and no harm is done, but to hand out 10s notes to pageboys for some trifling service when 6d would be ample recompense, is merely to brand oneself “profiteer." The valet usually has a fixed scale of charges for cleaning and pressing clothes, and 10 per cent, as a tip answers here. The floor waiter should be tipped according to services rendered. Ten per cent, per meal is usual. The chambermaid, if efficient, should be given Is a day, perhaps a little more for any special services. A married couple in a British home usually gives her 10s per week. The liftman should be tipped at the rate of 2s 6d per week. Concerning the hotel underporters, who shift your luggage on coming In and going out, tip in accordance with the amount shitted, say, at the rate of 6d per large trunk and 3d per hand package. This applies to station porters also. Take no notice of the station porter who informs you “that his charge 1s a dollar” for shifting your baggage a matter of 50 or 60 yards from boat train to taxi. A London taximan is satisfied with the 10 per cent, rule, 6d up to ss. and Is for anything in the neighbourhood of 10s. Don't hold out a handful of silver and say, “Help yourself.” In France in nearly every case the 10 per cent, is added automatically on to the bill. In Italy sometimes 15 per cent, or even 20 per cent, is added. This may be rather unwise in some respects, for the staff know that their pourboire is automatic whether their service is good or indifferent or even bad. In the writer's opinion, the fact that it lies within a guest's power to withhold a tip and to reward only those hotel servants who have given entire satisfaction is the better plan. It frequently happens that the servants at hotels where the automatic 10 per cent, is added to the bill expect more in addition ! On the other hand, in a British hotel it is enough to leave 10 per cent, of one's account with a manager for distribution. In English clubs members usually subscribe to a Christmas box fund once a year. It is considered to be bad taste to tip at any other time, and, so far as British clubs are concerned, friends of members are not expected to put their hands in their pockets for anything. In English private town or country houses the household staff Is tipped much in the same manner as in hotels. There is. of course, no 10 per cent, basis to work on here, re if In doubt inquire from fellow-guests. This appli ) also to the outdoor servants, such aa ge. l * "Keepers and "rooms.